The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has highlighted the value of art in promoting recovery, mental wellbeing and public health, stressing that creative expression is increasingly being recognised as a catalyst for positive change in healthcare.
In a document shared on Monday, it was noted that the health commissioner underscored this on Sunday during the opening of the inaugural Lagos Arts and Health Festival, held at the Soto Art Gallery in Ikoyi.
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According to him, the state is taking a holistic approach to healthcare by weaving art into hospital design, patient treatment and health promotion campaigns.
Prof. Abayomi recalled how art personally sustained him during his medical training in the United Kingdom (UK), and later informed his intervention during the Ebola crisis in West Africa, where survivors only felt able to donate plasma after engaging in art therapy.
He said a similar model proved effective during the COVID-19 outbreak when Lagos introduced the “Art for Life” initiative at its isolation centres.
“It was so amazing what Art for Life did during COVID-19, patients found hope in music, murals and poetry when human contact was cut off,” he explained, noting that art gave them hope and resilience.
The Commissioner added that new health facilities such as the Massey Children’s Hospital were now being designed with artistic and architectural flair. He also revealed that Lagos was investing in visual storytelling, animation and graphics to strengthen public health messaging.
Festival Director, Mrs Iniabasi Leye, described the event as a milestone for Lagos, pointing out that other cities including London, Rio de Janeiro and Harare had staged similar gatherings. She encouraged participants to explore the week-long programme, which runs from 24 to 30 August across both physical and online platforms.
Advisory Board Chair, Ms Aduke Gomez, praised Lagos for hosting the first edition, saying the city’s dynamism made it an ideal choice. She explained that arts-based interventions, from music and dance to journaling and gardening, have been proven to reduce anxiety, support dementia care and improve the lives of people with chronic illnesses.
The festival line-up features an art exhibition, dialogues on men’s and women’s health, therapy sessions on drug abuse, a blood donation drive, creative ageing workshops, academic presentations and a children’s disability awareness programme.
Organisers said the festival, jointly hosted by the Lagos State Government and Global South Arts and Health, aims to show how creativity can be integrated into healthcare as a therapeutic and developmental resource.
With its mix of cultural showcases, research forums and therapy initiatives, the event is expected to establish Lagos as a leading voice in arts-in-health innovation on the continent.
